In returning my rental car in Toronto this past week, I walked again right by the Truefitt and Hill shop yesterday afternoon, and indeed it was open.

I walked in -- and was pounced upon by three associates. They had T&H Luxury Soap in large and small cakes, as well as the matching chrome or wooden bowls - not to mention all the selections of scents, etc. So -- - I walked out without making a purchase.

Being quite proud of my restraint, I reported to my wife how I had resisted spending more $$ on shaving gear when she met me at the airport. She quickly retorted that she had just sent in an order to LL Bean that morning for some footwear -- couldda, shouldda --- and won't resist next time.

The T&H store at the Scotia Tower is very expensive and I've walked out a few times without getting anything. I did buy some bath soaps one time but I found out later it's cheaper to get them shipped to the house from overseas.

Bruno

"Shhhhhaving cream, be nice and clean shave every day and you'll always look keen."

I've seen the two sizes of soaps on the T&H site, but can't seem to find out what the sizes are. The large refill costs 2X the small one. Must be a very large difference in size. Does anyone here know? Also, while I'm at it, I'm very curious about the UC cream. I know it's a mild lavender fragrance, but it seems to be a best seller according to the website, and even comes in a 1 liter counter-top dispenser bottle. Anybody have anything to tell me about the performance?

brothers wrote:I've seen the two sizes of soaps on the T&H site, but can't seem to find out what the sizes are. The large refill costs 2X the small one. Must be a very large difference in size. Does anyone here know? Also, while I'm at it, I'm very curious about the UC cream. I know it's a mild lavender fragrance, but it seems to be a best seller according to the website, and even comes in a 1 liter counter-top dispenser bottle. Anybody have anything to tell me about the performance?

Gary, The smaller size is quite small, it's meant to fit into a traditional shaving scuttle, which are too small to hold regular sized shave soaps. I bought one at the T&H shop in Chicago a few weeks ago (I'm going to use it as a travel soap). I'll take a picture of it and post it later tonight when I go upstairs to turn in.

brothers wrote:I've seen the two sizes of soaps on the T&H site, but can't seem to find out what the sizes are. The large refill costs 2X the small one. Must be a very large difference in size. Does anyone here know? Also, while I'm at it, I'm very curious about the UC cream. I know it's a mild lavender fragrance, but it seems to be a best seller according to the website, and even comes in a 1 liter counter-top dispenser bottle. Anybody have anything to tell me about the performance?

Gary, here are a couple of photos of the small T&H Shave Soap, as compared to a newish standard sized Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet, which has been used about 10 times now:

Not only is the diameter of the T&H smaller than a standard puck of shave soap, but it's substantially thinner and lighter weight as well, which is hard to show in the photograph. Now if I can find some type of plastic or rubber container that's the right diameter & thinness to fit the puck, I will have the perfect travel soap.

Craig, thanks for the pics. I think when I buy, I'll go for the larger puck. I found a couple of sources that have good prices on it, charging only two or three dollars more than the T&H website is charging for the little "bitty" travel puck. One even pays the shipping, so that looks like what I'll do. The T&H bowl is very nice!

I have to be fair -- as I don't begrudge my wife any of her purchases -- had I made a purchase of my own, there would have been no backlash whatsoever -- I just thought that I really didn't need to spend the cash -- and to be honest the associate was so thick/uneducated, that I simply couldn't justify giving her the commission. Next time, perhaps.

jww wrote:I have to be fair -- as I don't begrudge my wife any of her purchases -- had I made a purchase of my own, there would have been no backlash whatsoever -- I just thought that I really didn't need to spend the cash -- and to be honest the associate was so thick/uneducated, that I simply couldn't justify giving her the commission. Next time, perhaps.

It's incredible how that can instantly turn one off... you would think that an establisment like T&H would go to lengths to ensure their staff are properly versed in their products and that the customer receives an experience unlike what can easily be gotten at any department store.

jww wrote: and to be honest the associate was so thick/uneducated, that I simply couldn't justify giving her the commission. Next time, perhaps.

That has been my experience with both the T&H shops in Toronto, as I mentioned earlier. What is so disappointing about it is that it's been this way since they opened their first store in Scotia Plaza, which has to be at least 10 years ago. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that they don't give a damn about good customer service; hence they won't get any of my business.

jww wrote: and to be honest the associate was so thick/uneducated, that I simply couldn't justify giving her the commission. Next time, perhaps.

That has been my experience with both the T&H shops in Toronto, as I mentioned earlier. What is so disappointing about it is that it's been this way since they opened their first store in Scotia Plaza, which has to be at least 10 years ago. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that they don't give a damn about good customer service; hence they won't get any of my business.

<<sigh>> -- wet shavers of the world unite! We're not gonna buy from un-informed store associates -- and will take our business elsewhere.

Wendell & Rufus, That's genuinely sad. It sounds like exactly the same sort of thing I have always run into in the AOS B&M shops. T&H really should do better....but obviously they don't, at least not in Canada. Sigh....
Regards,
Gordon

jww wrote: and to be honest the associate was so thick/uneducated, that I simply couldn't justify giving her the commission. Next time, perhaps.

That has been my experience with both the T&H shops in Toronto, as I mentioned earlier. What is so disappointing about it is that it's been this way since they opened their first store in Scotia Plaza, which has to be at least 10 years ago. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that they don't give a damn about good customer service; hence they won't get any of my business.

<<sigh>> -- wet shavers of the world unite! We're not gonna buy from un-informed store associates -- and will take our business elsewhere.

Wendell, it's not so much buying from uninformed store associates as it is buying from vendors that don't give a damn about good customer service.